News

Union and state governments on Sunday decided to lower Goods and Services Tax (GST) on under construction housing properties to 5% from an effective 12% in a pro-consumer decision ahead of national polls due by April-May.

GST rate on affordable housing projects too has been lowered from an effective 8% to 1%. Under-construction properties priced upto Rs. 45 lakh will qualify as affordable housing projects for the purpose of GST relief in both metro cities as well as non-metro cities, finance minister Arun Jaitley told reporters.

Highlights

GST rate on affordable housing projects too has been lowered from an effective 8% to 1%

Now, any house built on an area of 60 square metres or less in metros will now be categorised as affordable housing

“We wanted to give a boost to the real estate sector as well as give relief to the middle class, neo-middle class and the aspirational middle class class. This will come into effect 1 April 2019,” said Jaitley.

Although the cap on price of the property is ₹45 lakh for both metro and non-metro projects to get the 1% tax rate, they have to meet different carpet area requirements. Only those with the carpet area of 60 square metre in metros and 90 square metre in non-metros falling under the Rs. 45 lakh cap will be eligible for the 1% rate, explained Jaitley.